Inflated dress form measurement harness



Oct. 15, 1968 R. K. FOX 3,405,852

INFLATED DRESS FORM MEASUREMENT HARNESS Filed Sept. 25, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR F I s .5. Q W1 K W f gww ATTORNESS Oct. 15, 1968 R. K. FOX 3,405,852

INFLATED DRESS FORM MEASUREMENT HARNESS Filed Sept. 25, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR FIG.8. B fi g w ATTORNEgg United States Patent O 3,405,852 INFLATED DRESS FORM MEASUREMENT HARNESS Ruby K. Fox, 2732 Mountainview Drive, Waco, Tex. 76710 Filed Sept. 25, 1967, Ser. No. 674,693 11 Claims. (Cl. 223-67) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE In combination, a hollow inflatable dress form of plastic material resembling when inflated a human torso; means in the neck of the dress form for inflating and de flating the form; means at the bottom of the form forming an annular chamber receiving ballast material for steadying the form upright when inflated upon a support; the bottom portion of the form having a series of spaced horizontal lines extending therearound for determining skirt hem length; and a measurement harness placed over and upon the partly inflated dress form and consisting of two shoulder straps, an adjustable bust strap, an adjustable waist strap, and an adjustable hip strap; said straps serving as pinning areas, and confining the dress form in the bust, waist and hip areas when fully inflated.

Description of invention This invention is a novel inflatable dress form with measurement harness, the same consisting of two parts to be used by a seamstress for fitting purposes eliminating personal fittings. The first part is a dress form which may be made of plastic material and is of inflatable type, and when inflated it resembles the human torso. The second part is a measurement harness which overlies the dress form and which serves two purposes, first, assurance of the inflated form having the desired correct bust, waist and hip measurements, and second, providing ample pinnin g area on the inflated form.

One object of the present invention is to provide a dress form which can be produced in universal dress sizes, the same having no movable parts and requiring no adjustments to be made after the initial size adjustment.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a dress form which, when not in use, can be deflated and stored in a small box approximately the size of an ordinary shoe box; also to provide a dress form which is very light in weight, the same weighing only approximately 3 pounds, thus providing for convenience of carrying a small lightweight package to and from the dressmakers, thereby eliminating tiresome and time-consuming fittings; also providing a dress form of the above type that is very inexpensive to manufacture both with respect to the inflatable dress form, and also to the measurement harness.

Other minor objects will be hereinafter set forth.

I will explain the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate one practical embodiment thereof to enable others familiar with the art to adopt and use the same; and will summarize in the claims the novel features of construction, and novel combinations of parts, for which protection is desired.

In said drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the inflated dress form, per se.

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FIG. 2 is a side elevation thereof.

FIG. 3 is a vertical section on the line 3-3, FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a horizontal section on the line 4-4, FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the measurement harness, but showing in dotted lines the positions assumed by the parts thereof when applied to a human torso.

FIG. 6 is a front elevational view of the measurement harness applied to the inflated dress form shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged elevational view of the front portion of the measurement harness.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged section on the line 8-8, FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged section on the line 9-9, FIG. 7.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the inflated dress form 1 is preferably formed of a plastic material of the inflatable type and when inflated it generally resembles the human torso. Such inflatable dress forms may be produced in universal dress sizes, even for little girls, and will be made of strong and durable plastic material having a slick, smooth surface, and if desired a wide range of colors. In the dress form, preferably at the neck portion 1a, is an air valve 2 of any desired type by which form 1 may be inflated or deflated, the same being situated at the top of the form in the neck area 1a so that same will not interfere with the fitting areas. The form may be filled with air by means of a small pump, or inflated by mouth. The plastic material of the form is such that same will not stretch, and hence when the form is inflated to a smooth firm surface a specified dress size will be attained.

The lower end of the dress form 1 is closed by a bottom wall 1b, and around the bottom 11) spaced upwardly therefrom is an annular L-shaped ring 1c of the same plastic material as the form 1, said ring 10 forming an annular chamber 1d which may be filled or partially filled with sand 3, or the like, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, whereby when the dress form 1 is inflated or partly inflated the sand 3 will hold the form in a steady upright position on any supporting surface.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, the lower portion of the outer wall of the skirt portion of the dress form 1 is marked with a series of spaced horizontal lines 1e extending around the lower area of the form 1 which will serve as gauge lines by which an accurate skirt hem length may be determined. Each line 1e may, if desired, be marked to indicate the number of inches from the floor, and since the form is very light in weight it may be placed on a table and turned around and around while the seamstress pins the hem or performs other work to be done on the skirt area. Thus the provision of the lines 1e allows the seamstress to be seated for this part of the fitting instead of standing and bending such as is normally encountered in the fitting of dresses.

In conjunction with the dress form 1, as above described, I provide a measurement harness shown more particularly in FIGS. 5 to 9, which harness is placed over and upon the form 1 and adjusted to the correct measurements before the form is completely inflated, FIG. 6, showing such combination of the inflatable dress form and measurement harness.

The harness is made of soft fabric belt material which will receive pins readily and will provide ample pinning areas permitting garments to be pinned to the form while fitting. With just a little caution it is very unlikely that one would ever puncture the inflated form while pinning garments to the harness. However, if the form should be punctured there are several suitable patching materials now on the market which could be utilized to repair the puncture, therebeing very little air pressure inside the form 1 even when it is inflated to a smooth firm surface. Thus mending a punctured form 1 is a very simple matter. In fact, a simple adhesive tape placed over the hole will do a good mending job.

As shown in FIGS. and 6, the measurement harness consists of five straps each resembling a belt, which straps are made of material that is firm and durable, soft and pliable, the straps being of relatively narrow width, and if made of light colored material may be marked with lines and numbers indicating sizes, i.e., lengths of the various straps. The two shoulder straps 4 and 5 are identical and may, if desired, be labeled shoulder straps. Shoulder straps 4 and 5 are preferably formed of double thickness, i.e., two straps stitched together at approximately 1 /2 inch intervals as shown at 4a, 50 (FIG. 7), thereby permitting the three lateral straps, 6, 7 and 8 to be laced'through the shoulder straps as shown in FIG. 9, and secured in place at the proper individual distance from the shoulder to the bust, and from the shoulder to the waist, and from the waist to the hip area. The bust strap 6 may be labeled bust, the waist strap may be labeled waist, and the hip strap 8 may be labeled hip. Longitudinal measurements along these straps 6, 7, 8 may be indicated by lines 9 and numbers (not shown) similar to a tape measure. As shown, one end of each of the bust strap 6, waist strap 7, and hip strap 8 has secured thereto a round and thin flat ring 10, the ring being disposed at the front center of the inflatable body 1. The other ends of the straps 6, 7, 8 will be laced through the front section of the right shoulder strap 4, as shown in FIG. 9, then the two back sections of the shoulder straps 4 and 5, and then the front section of the left shoulder strap 5 then pulled through the ring 10 at the front center to the desired measured position, the free end of the straps, i.e., the loose ends, being then doubled back upon the straps as shown in FIG. 8 and pinned or otherwise secured as at 11 (FIG. 8) in desired adjusted position to their respective straps.

When the harness is first assembled it should be done on the human torso itself to obtain correct measurements by putting the shoulder straps 4 and 5 across the shoulders of the torso, the ends of these straps extending a little below the hip of the torso at the front and back of the torso. Then the waist strap 7 should be placed through the shoulder straps 4 and 5 at the waist area of the torso and the correct measurement noted. The same procedure is then followed utilizing the bust strap 6 and the hip straps 8. A marking device such as a pencil could be used to spot the individual measurements on the respective straps 6, 7 and 8. Thereafter, upon removing the measurement harness from the human torso the harness will be assembled on the inflated dress form 1, fastening the lateral straps 6, 7 and 8 by pins 11 (FIG. 8) at their proper indicated sizes. When so assembled the dress form 1 should be completely inflated, its shape being confined by the straps 6, 7, 8, thereby eliminating the necessity of future repeated measuring unless the size of the individual should change.

Hence my novel inflatable dress form and measurement harness above described will be useful, practical, and inexpensive in home sewing and alteration activities, and will eliminate personal fittings once the correct measurements of the measurement harness has been ascertained by application of the harness to the human torso.

I do not limit my invention to the exact form shown in the drawings, for obviously changes may be made therein within the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. In combination, a hollow inflatable dress form of plastic material resembling when inflated a human torso; valve means in the dress form for inflating and deflating the form; and a measurement harness disposed over and upon the partly inflated dress form and consisting of two shoulder straps, an adjustable bust strap, an adjustable waist strap, and an adjustable hip strap; said straps serving as pinning areas, and confiining the dress form in the bust, waist and hip areas when fully inflated.

2. In a combination as set forth in claim 1, said shoulder straps comprising double thicknesses of soft pliable fabric strips stitched together at spaced intervals; the bust, waist and hip straps being laced through the shoulder straps at the front and back of the form and secured at measured distances from the shoulders of the form.

3. In a combination as set forth in claim 1, said bust, waist and hip straps comprising single thicknesses of a soft pliable strip, a ring member secured to one end of the straps respectively and disposed at the front of the dress form, the other ends of the straps being laced through the shoulder straps at .the front and back of the form and passed through the related rings and doubled back and secured upon itself.

4. In combination a hollow infiatable dress form of plastic material resembling when inflated a human torso; valve means in the neck of the dress form'for inflating and deflating the form; means at the bottom of the form forming an annular chamber receiving ballast material for steadying the form upright when inflated upon a support; and a measurement harness disposed over and upon the partly inflated dress form and consisting of two shoulder straps, an adjustable bust strap, an adjustable waist strap, and an adjustable hip strap; said straps serving as pinning areas, and confining the dress form in the bust, waist and hip areas when fully inflated. Y

5. In a combination as set forth in claim 4, said form having a bottom wall, and said chamber-forming means comprising an annular L-shaped member contacting the bottom and side walls of the form and confining therebetween an amount of sand. j

6. In a combination as set forth in claim 4, said shoulder straps comprising double thicknesses of soft pliable fabric strips stitched together at spaced intervals; the bust, waist and hip straps being laced through the shoulder straps at the front and back of the form and secured at interval distances from the shoulders of the :form.

7. In a combination as set forth in claim 4, said bust, waist and hip straps comprising single thicknessesof a soft pliable strip, one end of each strap being secured to a related ring member respectively at the front of the dress form, the other end being laced through the shoulder straps at the front and back of the form and passed through the related ring and doubled back and secured upon itself; said bust, Waist and hip straps having indicia thereon indicating longitudinal measurements, 7

8. In combination, a hollow inflatable dress form of plastic material resembling when inflated a human torso; valve means in the neck of the dress form for inflating and deflating the form; means at the bottom of the form forming an annular chamber receiving ballast material for steadying the form upright when inflated upon a support; the bottom portion of the form having a series of spaced horizontal lines extending therea-round for determining skirt hem length; and a measurement harness disposed over and upon the partly inflated dress form and consisting of two shoulder straps, an adjustable bust strap, an adjustable waist strap, and an adjustable hip strap; said straps serving as pinning areas, and confining the dress form in the bust, waist and hip areas when fully inflated.

9. In a combination as set forth in claim 8, said form having a bottom wall and said chamber-forming means comprising an annular L-shaped member engaging the bottom wall of the form and confining therebetween an amount of sand.

10. In a combination as set forth in claim 8, said shoulder straps comprising double thicknesses of soft pliable fabric strips stitched together at spaced intervals; the bust, waist and hip straps being laced through the shoulder straps at the front and back of the form and secured at individual distances from the shoulders of the form.

11. In a combination as set forth in claim 8, said bust, waist and hip straps comprising single thicknesses of a soft pliable strip, one end of each strap being secured to a related ring member respectively at the front of the dress form, the other end being laced through the shoulder straps at the front and back of the form and passed through the related ring and doubled back upon itself and secured to its respective strap; said bust, waist and hip straps having indicia thereon indicating longitudinal measurements.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 839,431 12/1906 Smith 223-67 5 1,737,434 11/1929 Sahagian 2236 7 1,773,955 8/1930 Couture 223-68 2,646,907 7/1953 Clawsey et al. 223-68 JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primmy Examiner. 10 G. V. LARKIN, Assistant Examiner. 

